Rockford HOPE hosting men's mental health educational event

Rockford HOPE, a local suicide-prevention organization, will host “Men’s Mental Fitness Morning” at North Rockford Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 4. The event is an effort to provide education and prevention methods regarding men’s mental health. Men are four times more likely than women to commit suicide, according to the National Institute of Health.

HOPE’s goal for the event is to educate both men and women on how men suffer emotionally, but may express it differently than women. Rockford HOPE, which stands for “Helping Others through Prevention and Education,” is a grassroots organization with the goal of increasing suicide prevention education and mental health advocacy in the Rockford community.

“Men and women suffer emotionally, but express it in different ways,” HOPE co-founder Colette Smiley said. “The Men’s Mental Fitness Morning will address the biological, psychological, and social factors that affect men’s well being.”

The event, sponsored by BRAINS, Forest View Hospital, Pine Rest, and the Westbrook Recovery Center, will feature speeches from a variety of experts. Detroit Lions quarterback Eric Hipple will deliver the keynote address. After the suicide of his 15-year-old son in 2000, Hipple became involved in educating others about the dangers of depression and currently serves as the outreach coordinator for the University of Michigan Depression Center. Hipple also authored a book “Real Men Do Cry,” published in 2009, tracing his career with the Lions and his battles with depression.

Other speakers will be Al Heystek, discussing “the real man myth;” psychiatrist Dr. David Mazur, on biochemical factors of mental fitness; and Gary Watson, with how to support a suffering loved one. The speakers will wrap up the event with a question-and-answer panel. Afterwards, local therapists Melissa Tower, Sarah Vandebyl, and Mark Oltoff will be available for private consultations.

The event cost is a $10 donation. A Panera Bread continental breakfast and door prizes will be provided to attendees. For more information, including how to register for the event, visit www.rockfordhopegroup.org.